The San Diego Padres' ongoing quest for a World Series (or at least a playoff title). "You know that many runners enter a race, but only one of them wins the prize. So run to win! Athletes work hard to win a crown that cannot last, but we do it for a crown that will last forever." 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

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I don’t even know where to begin. Today was incredible. It went so perfectly. I can’t even imagine what kind of emotions Trevor is going through right now. Today was a very, very special day for him, his family and friends, and all Padres fans.

At about 12:31 p.m. this afternoon, Ted Leitner started Trevor Hoffman’s retirement ceremony. Soon, “Hell’s Bells” started playing and Trevor walked out of the Padres bullpen. I had been getting slightly emotional while waiting for the ceremony to being, but once his song started playing and he walked out, I lost it. It was an amazing moment. I was shaking and crying and happy and sooo excited.

It was the last Trevor Time. Ever. It was the last time that he would walk in from that bullpen to Hell’s Bells. It was sad, but it wasn’t entirely despairing. It’s like a new chapter in his story. Yeah, he’ll never pitch in the Major Leagues again, but I don’t think we’re done seeing Trevor. He’s still going to be around and doing new and exciting things. I’m really happy for him.

Trev walked all the way to the infield with his family. I thought that was really cool because his wife and kids were never able to do that walk from the bullpen with him before.

It was an amazing ceremony. Lots of videos, lots of memories. And so many of the influential people in Trevor’s life were there, from his coaches when he was really young to teammates from his whole career. It was so cool!

Today was declared “Trevor Hoffman Day” by the Mayor of San Diego. One of the really cool things during the ceremony was the gift the Padres gave to Trevor: a 1958 Cadillac convertible. Amazing. You should have seen Trevor’s face when he got that thing. It seems like the perfect gift for him.

The number 51 was revealed next to the other retired numbers on the top of the scoreboard. It looks like it belongs there.

Trevor Hoffman's number, 51, is now officially retired from the San Diego Padres.

There were so many wonderful words spoken about Trevor, by his family members, former teammates, coaches, and fellow baseball players. It reminded me how amazingly blessed we are to have him here in San Diego. He is such a classy guy, such a role model, such an inspiration.

As the ceremony came to a close, Trevor took a turn to speak and thank everyone for the incredible day. Then it was time for the National Anthem. Oh my goodness. The Padres played a video of Ed Hoffman, Trevor’s father, singing the National Anthem in 1981. It was amazing.

The Padres really did an incredible job with this day. They made it so special for Trevor and his family. So special. Of course, this day was to honor Trevor, but they made it fun for the fans, too. They gave us posters and embossings, and then we could buy commemorative cups and shirts and hats.

The energy that was around me was amazing. It was probably because I was on the field level. I think things are a little more intense down there than the upper deck, where I usually reside. But still, it was just amazing to be in that environment, where everyone was so excited about Trevor.

It was truly a day that will never be forgotten.

Trevor, you deserved today. You have been an inspiration to many people, including me. I was so proud today to be wearing the number 51, and I’m so proud to be a Padres fan. Even through all the losses and all the trades and the way the team doesn’t generally do well, today taught me that being a Padres fan is so much more than just the performance on the field. It’s the people. It’s the athletes. It’s people like you who are good at baseball but great at being a wonderful person. Your legacy is so much bigger than your 601 saves; your legacy is the lives that you touched and the people you served.

I am so glad that I was able to be there today. I’m so glad that you are a Padre. Thank you, thank you, thank you for everything. You mean more to us then you’ll ever know.

It was written in 2008, after Game 163, by Bob Nightengale with USA Today. I don’t know how you could paint a better picture of this game. Absolutely incredible imagery.

Just read it. This may be the most accurate picture of Trevor Hoffman’s character that you’ll see anywhere.

Well, we’re almost there, guys. We are about 22 hours away from the ceremony, and I am getting ridiculously excited. I can’t wait!!!!! Let’s sell out this place, everyone. Yesterday I heard that there were still tickets. Absurd! This game should be absolutely sold out. Any baseball fan within a 60 mile radius should be at the ballpark tomorrow, in their seats, by 12:30 p.m. Trevor deserves to have the whole place sold out in his honor. I’m sure it will get sold out, but I’m surprised it didn’t happen earlier.

LET’S DO THIS!!

GO PADRES!!!!

I’ve written a ton of blog posts about Trevor Hoffman. A TON. (I’m even wearing a Trevor Hoffman shirt in my main blog picture <- cool, huh?) Especially after he became a free agent. I’m linking them all here, but if you don’t feel like reading all of them, there are two-must read ones, posts that I consider to be some of the best things I’ve ever written.

MUST READS:

Always Belong To Us – No matter where Trevor went (or was forced to go, ahem), he will always be a Padre. He will always be our All-Time Saves leader.

Why Trevor? – I could not believe what the front office was telling us. I was upset, confused, and thinking, how can you let someone like Trevor Hoffman go?

I hope you were able to find one or two that interested you and helped you get ready for the weekend. For me, looking back at all these makes me so thankful that we had one of the classiest guys in the game here, in San Diego, for so many years. I’m so glad that we’re going to have him for many years to come.

GO PADRES!!!

Here are some of my favorite Trevor Hoffman moments. There are so many, but they’re all so great :)

Save 479: Of course, the day that Trevor broke the All-Time Saves record was an amazing day for Padres fans. I remember sitting in my room having the radio blaring, listening as Trevor came in to pitch. It was sooo exciting.I was so happy and overwhelmed for him. It was a seriously great moment.

(Photo by John R. McCutchen/San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)

Save 500: Almost as cool as #479

Coming home: After two years away from the Padres, Trevor retired at the beginning of the 2011 season and joined the Padres as a front office assistant. With a new ownership that was more respectful towards veteran legends like Trevor (that was a dig at John Moores), we welcomed him back with open arms and great joy. It’s wonderful to have him back here. San Diego is where he belongs and where he always will. I hope that he will never, ever leave us again.

These are just a few of many, I’m sure. I would write about more, but I’m short of time. After all, Trevor saved 552 games for us. Going through each one would take waaaayyy too long ;)

GO PADRES!!

My personal experience with Trevor Hoffman is a very special one. I’m sure that many Padres fans have stories about their interactions with Trevor, but I’m sure each one is very different. For me, I haven’t had the chance to talk to him or even introduce myself to him, but what I do have is very special to me in it’s own way.

One of my very first memories about the Padres was finding a picture of Trevor in the newspaper or something, and knowing that this was a special guy. I had to have been 6 or 7 at the time. I cut out that picture of Trevor and made it into a homemade baseball card. I didn’t really know his significance like I do now, but that’s something I’ve always had of Trevor’s.

Fast forward to 2007, freshman year of high school. My best friends and I went to a Padres game to celebrate my birthday. I always talk about this game because it was the day that I fell in love with Kevin Kouzmanoff, but I sometimes forget that it was also significant because of Trevor. After Kouz came up to us and gave us a baseball and autographs, we went into the park and walked around towards the first base side. There, we saw Trevor Hoffman himself, stretching during batting practice. We were sooo excited. We went closer to the Padres bullpen and when Trevor was done, he came by and signed autographs for all of us! It was amazing because he didn’t stay for long at all, but me and my three friends all got his autograph. It was sooo cool!!

I’ve said that the baseball he autographed might be the most valuable thing I own. It’s not often that you get the autograph of baseball’s All-Time Saves Leader!

I got to see Trevor Time for the one and only time on August 14, 2008. All I wanted that year was to see Trevor close a game live. The score was 3-1 in the bottom of the eighth, and I was really glad when we didn’t get any runs in that inning. I was SOOOO excited when “Hell’s Bells” started and Trevor ran out from the bullpen. It was the coolest thing. Trevor allowed a home run to former Padre Mike Cameron, but he got the save for a 3-2 win. It was amazing. I’m so glad that I got to see Trevor Time, even if it was only once.

I love Trevor. Like I said, I’ve never had the opportunity to actually meet him, but he’s been a great influence in my life. I loved having him as a Padre, and was literally devastated when he was let go from the Padres. That was the worst. But thankfully, he’s back and he’s forever a Padre <3

One day and 22 hours until the ceremony!!!!!

GO PADRES!!!

For the next few days leading up to Trevor Hoffman’s Retirement Ceremony (August 21st, Petco Park, 12:30 p.m. Tickets at padres.com), I am going to be posting about my top favorite Trevor moments. Ones that impacted me personally, and ones that impacted the city of San Diego as a whole. Trevor Hoffman is one of my all-time favorite Padres, and I have so much admiration and respect for this guy. I’m beyond excited at the opportunity to be at his ceremony and really honor his incredible career.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for the first post about my favorite Trevor moments. I can’t wait.

Despite an outstanding performance on all sides the night before (offense and pitching), the Padres weren’t able to pull through Wednesday, leaving Padres fans wondering if the season of losing would ever end.

Starter Mat Latos was solid, only making one big mistake. He threw six innings, allowing three runs with six strikeouts. All three runs came on a three-run homer to Mets third baseman David Wright in the third inning. (Wow, that’s a lot of threes.) Unfortunately, his offense wasn’t able to back him up and he got the loss, his 12th of the year.

The Padres only got three runs in the game, with two of them coming in the bottom of the ninth. Nick Hundley doubled in Aaron Cunningham with no outs, and then Alberto Gonzalez doubled in Hundley right before Jason Bartlett struck out to end the game.

But the Mets had no such problem. Angel Pagan, leading off in the lineup, had two hits and three RBIs. That, coupled with Wright’s bomb and Willie Harris’ RBI single in the eighth gave New York more than enough to win the game.

Padres fans know that the team isn’t going to go anywhere, at least not this season, but it would always be nice to have some good games during the last few months of the season, like Tuesday’s 6-1 win. But a series like this shows why the Padres are 15 games out of first place: even if they are able to have a solid game, they aren’t able to carry that momentum even to a game the very next day. Consistency, momentum, whatever you want to call it, the Padres don’t have it. And that’s why they are stuck in the cellar of the NL West.

The Padres will host the Florida Marlins for the next four games over the weekend, leading up to Trevor Hoffman’s retirement ceremony before the game on Sunday. You won’t want to miss it.

We actually got the early lead with two runs in the bottom of the first, and kept that lead for the rest of the game. The Mets were able to get one run in the top of the fourth, but we added one run in the bottom of that inning, two runs in the seventh, and one run in the eighth.

Cory Luebke, who started the game, threw very, very well. He had a no-hitter through 3.2 innings. He ended up only giving up three hits on one run with five strikeouts. What an outing!

In relief, Chad Qualls allowed the Mets’ only other hit in the game. Luke Gregerson and Erik Hamren threw the eighth and ninth with no problems.

It was a really good 6-1 win. We had some really solid hitting, really solid pitching. It was great to see.

Guess what? Trevor Hoffman day is only a few days away!!!! I am sooooo excited. But I’m going to cry so bad. Just the sound of Hell’s Bells makes me freak out, so I’m pretty sure I’m going to be a mess on Sunday. But that’s okay. Trevor Hoffman is my all-time favorite Padre (besides Kevin Kouzmanoff), but more than that, he’s one of the all-time favorite Padres in San Diego. I have so much admiration and respect for Trevor, I could go on and on about how much this guy means to me.

I’m just so happy that this retirement ceremony is happening. There was a time just a few years ago where I thought Trevor and the Padres would never be on speaking terms again. Those were some bad days. But I’m so, so, thankful that we have new leaders in the front office, people who respect Trevor and all he means to San Diego, people who will give him an amazing ceremony to honor his incredible career. It’s going to be a great day to be a Padres fan.

Your San Diego Padres have won three games in a row, and they didn’t hold anything back.

We scored 35 runs. Had 40 hits. Hit five home runs, including two grand slams.

This is not the Padres we’re used to, but man, did I enjoy this weekend. It’s really great for us, but we do feel for the Pirates, since we’ve experienced so much of their pain, like the Union-Tribune article was talking about. Today we gave the Pirates their 10th straight loss. Ouch.

One thing I was really excited about today was Mat Latos’ outing. He did really well! He went seven solid innings, only allowing two runs on four hits, and those runs didn’t come until the bottom of the eighth. He also had seven strikeouts and got the win. Way to go, Mat!!

Former Padre Kevin Correia actually started for the Pirates, which I thought was funny. He only went 5.2 innings and got the loss. HA!

The sweep was a great victory, but we had a lot of bad news this week on the injury side. Chris Denorfia was put on the DL with a strained hamstring, which is really sad. Here’s a great video that shows us many reasons why losing Chris is so bad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCCKEsNMomA

Also, Chase Headley is going to be out for a few weeks with fractured left little finger. Not good. Not good…at all.

We go to New York to play the Mets next. Tim Stauffer is starting tomorrow night.

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